Fixing means for a windshield wiper system

ABSTRACT

An attachment for a noise-and-vibration dampening fixing of a windshield wiper system to a vehicle body comprises a fastening eye with a circular aperture for receiving a rubber-elastic, hollow, cylindrical, noise-and-vibration dampening element with circumferential annular groove on its outside surface. Good stability of the attachment and its easy assembling are achieved in that, proceeding from the circular aperture, an open break extends through an edge, raised in an approximately perpendicular manner, so that a web is fastened on yoke tongues of a resulting yoke opening and bridges the yoke opening. The dampening element is insertable sideways through the yoke opening as far as into the aperture.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to windshield wiper systems and more particularlyrelates to a fixing means for a windshield wiper system which allows anoise-dampening attachment of vibration-loaded parts or elements to avehicle body or parts thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

DE 40 36 367 A1 discloses a pre-mountable wiper system whose motorcarrier plate and wiper bearing housing are equipped with fixing meansfor vibration-limiting or noise-dampening attachment to the vehiclebody. Each of the wiper bearing housings has a lateral mountingprojection. These mounting projections and the motor carrier platefeature a through bore provided therein. Buttoned into the through boreis a hollow cylindrical dampening element of rubber-elastic materialwith an annular groove extending along its outside circumference. Thelocation of the annular groove is about mid-length of the body of thedampening element. The windshield wiper system is to be attached to thevehicle body by means of bolts reaching through the dampening elements.

These fixing means described here are disadvantageous in that it is avery intensive and intricate operation to button the dampening elementsinto the through bores.

From DE 39 03 976 A1 another premounted wiper system has become knownwhich, inter alia, comprises a die-cast motor carrier part. The motorcarrier part features an integrally shaped lateral fastening eye. On oneside, this eye is yoked open so that a rubber-elastic dampening elementof the type described in DE 40 36 367 A1 can be slid sideways into theopening. The free ends of the yoke tongues approach each other so thatthe dampening element will be squeezed slightly as it is slid insideways and will return to its regular original shape when reaching itsreceiving aperture. The annular groove on the outside circumference ofthe dampening element and the yoke tongues which approach each otherwill keep the dampening element within the fastening eye.

This solution admittedly enables easy assembly of the rubber-elasticdampening element, yet introduces another disadvantage. When fasteningthe wiper system to the vehicle body, the screw connection passingthrough will squeeze the dampening element axially, with the material ofthe dampening element tending to escape radially. Thus, the yoke tonguesof the fastening eye are under a strong radial pressure which can resultin bending apart or even in rupture.

A further prefabricated windshield wiper system is disclosed in GB 2 218622 A. There, a wiper bearing housing features an integrally shapedlateral mounting projection which opens like a yoke and is capable ofreceiving a dampening element of the already described type by means ofsideward insertion. As already stated with regard to DE 39 03 976 A1,due to the axial compression of the dampening element, here, there willalso be radial forces which act on the yoke parts and may cause the sameto be bent apart or even to break off.

It is an object of this invention to develop noise-dampening or rathervibration-dampening fixing means for a windshield wiper system whichpermit easy assembly of the rubber-elastic dampening element, on the onehand, and ensure the required stability of the fastening eye, on theother hand.

According to this invention, this object is solved by a fixing meanswhere a web, connected with both yoke tongues of the fastening eye,bridges the yoke opening so as to enable a rubber-elastic dampeningelement with its groove on the outside circumference to be slid insideways through the yoke opening up to where it will be positionedproperly within the receiving aperture.

The web bridging the yoke opening gives the fastening eye the stabilityrequired in order to prevent the yoke tongues from bending apart or frombreaking off. Bridging the yoke opening enables the easy sidewardinsertion of the dampening element.

In case the part of a windshield wiper system which is to be fastened tothe vehicle is a die casting, it will be an advantage if the fasteningeye likewise is a die casting and is formed integrally with thementioned die casting of the windshield wiper system. This fastening eyehas a cup-shaped design and the aperture for receiving therubber-elastic dampening element is located in the cup bottom. The yokeopening which proceeds from the receiving aperture extends through thecup wall so that the web bridging the yoke opening on the provided levelis formed by the remainder of the cup wall. This will allow goodstability of the entire fastening eye, with the dampening elementnevertheless being easily insertable sideways through the yoke opening.

In another embodiment, the fastening eye is made from sheet metal andfirmly connected with the respective part of the windshield wipersystem. In this case, the web bridging the two yoke tonges is likewise asheet metal part. This sheet metal part may be approximately U-shapedand may be fastened with the front side of each of its legs on a yoketongue so that it will stand up from the yoke tongues in anapproximately upright manner.

Manufacture of the fastening eye will be easier if the web is formed inone piece with the fastening eye and is formed by a section of the metalplate of the fastening eye which is raised from the remaining plane ofthe metal plate.

Manufacture of the fastening eye will be rendered even easier if the webis formed by a raised edge of the metal plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the perspective representation of a die-cast version of ahousing of a wiper bearing with an integral cup-shaped fastening eye.

FIG. 2 is the top view on the wiper bearing housing of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wiper bearing housing of FIG. 1, with therubber-elastic dampening element being inserted.

FIG. 4 is the perspective representation of a sheet-metal version of afastening eye for a windshield wiper system.

FIG. 5 is the top view on the fastening eye of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is the front view of the fastening eye of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is the sectional representation of the side view of the fasteningeye of FIG. 6, with the dampening element being inserted.

FIG. 8 is a top view on another embodiment of a sheet-metal version of afastening eye.

FIG. 9 is a section along line I--I through the fastening eye of FIG. 8without dampening element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Integrally shaped in one piece with the die-cast version of a wiperbearing housing 1 represented in FIGS. 1 through 3 is a likewisedie-cast fastening eye 2. The wiper bearing housing 1 has a pivot 3integrally shaped therewith. Via this pivot 3, the wiper bearing housing1 and, thus, the fastening eye 2 are to be connected with thenon-represented tubular frame of a windshield wiper system. Thefastening eye 2 is held on the wiper bearing housing 1 by means of tworibs 4. The fastening eye 2 itself is approximately cup-shaped, with acircular aperture 5 being provided in the cup bottom for receiving therubber-elastic dampening element 6. An open break 7 proceeding from thisaperture 5 extends as far as and throughout the cup wall 8.

The diameter of the aperture 5 corresponds to the outside diameter ofthe dampening element 6 at the bottom of the annular groove 9 providedon the outside circumference of the dampening element 6. The open break7 is narrower than the diameter of the aperture 5. This ensures that thedampening element 6 will be kept safely in the aperture 5 and not getlost.

In the section of the cup wall 8 where the open break 7 extends throughthe cup wall 8, there is provided the open break 10 in the cup wall 8.This open break 10 is about half the height of the dampening element 6and the width of the open break 10 is slightly larger than the outsidediameter of the dampening element 6. Together, the open break 7 and theopen break 10 form the yoke opening 11 enclosed by the yoke tongues 12.The yoke tongues 12 are bridged by a web 13 which is formed by theremainder of the cup wall 8 in the section of the yoke opening 11, saidweb 13 being connected in one piece with the yoke tongues 12.

Insertable into the fastening eye 2 is a rubber-elastic noise-dampeningelement 6 which is a hollow cylindrical part with a circumferentialannular groove 9 provided and arranged about mid-way in the outsidesurface. Insertion of the dampening element 6 takes place by insertingit sideways with the annular groove 9 through the yoke opening 11 as faras into aperture 5. The fixing means and, together with the same, thewindshield wiper system are fixed to the vehicle body by means of anon-represented screw or rather threaded bolt penetrating the dampeningelement 6.

FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate another example of an embodiment. There,the fastening eye 2 is made from a metal plate with an edge 14 raised inan approximately upright manner. Provided in the base surface of themetal plate is a circular aperture 5 for receiving a rubber-elasticdampening element 6, with the diameter of the aperture 5 againcorresponding to the outside diameter of the dampening element 6, whichoutside diameter is formed by the bottom of the circumferential annulargroove 9.

An open break 7 proceeding from the aperture 5 extends as far as andthrough the raised edge 14, with a rectangular open break 10 provided inthe raised edge 14 in the merging area of the open break 7. The openbreak 7 is narrower than the diameter of the aperture 5; the open break10 is higher than half the height of the dampening element 6 and widerthan the largest outside diameter of the dampening element 6. The twoopen breaks 7 and 10 form the yoke opening flanked by the yoke tongues12. The remainder of the raised edge 14 forms the approximately U-shapedweb 13 which bridges the yoke opening 11 and which, because of itsconnection in one piece with the yoke tongues 12, procures the desiredstability of the fastening eye 2.

The fastening eye 2 itself is firmly connected with one part of thewindshield wiper system by means of one side of the metal plate such asthe side opposite to the raised edge 14. Thus the fastening eye 2 may befastened to a non-represented wiper bearing housing or it can be formedin one piece with a non-represented motor carrier plate.

A rubber-elastic dampening element 6 of the type already described canbe slid sideways with its annular groove 9 through the yoke opening 11up to where it will adopt its final position as illustrated in FIG. 7.In passing the open break 7, there will be a slight elastic deformationof the dampening element 6 since this open break 7 is narrower than theoutside diameter of the dampening element 6 at the bottom of the annulargroove 9. Within the aperture 5, the dampening element 6 may return toits original shape and thus be caught, as it were, by the aperture,thereby a locking action being effected.

The windshield wiper system is to be fastened to a vehicle body by meansof screws or threaded bolts or similar suitable means penetrating thebore of the dampening element 6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a last example of an embodiment. The here representedfastening eye 2 is again made from sheet metal, the actual metal platehaving a section shaped like a circular arc and continued tangentiallyon both sides. In this circular arc section and in the tangentiallyadjoining sides, the edge 14 of the plate is again raised rectangularlywhich, for instance, may be done by deep drawing. In the base surface ofthe fastening eye 2, again, there is provided the aperture 5 which is toreceive the non-illustrated dampening element 6 and when the open break7 proceeds towards the centre of the circular arc section of the edge 14and, there, through the same. In the merging area of the open break 7,there is the open break 10 in the raised edge 14 in order to enable thedampening element 6 to be slid in sideways as far as into the aperture5.

The remainder of the raised edge 14 here again forms the web 13 bridgingthe yoke opening 11 and being perpendicular to the yoke tongues 12 andfirmly connected with the same. The insertion of a dampening element 6as well as the fastening of the fastening eye 2 plus the windshieldwiper system, again connected therewith, to a vehicle body are done thesame way as in the example of embodiments already described.

Concluding, there is no need for the web 13 to be formed in one piecetogether with the fastening part. It may also be manufactured separatelyand then, afterwards, be connected firmly with the yoke tongues 12,e.g.,by means of spot or butt welding. There is likewise no need for the web13 to be arranged on the outer edge of the fastening eye 2. It may alsobe arranged somewhat inwards with regard to the edge of the fasteningeye 2.

We claim:
 1. Fixing means for a windshield wiper system for attachmentof vibration-loaded components of the windshield wiper system to avehicle body, the fixing means comprising:a fastening eye adapted to beconnected with a respective part of the windshield wiper system, thefastening eye being provided with a receiving aperture and an open breakproceeding therefrom, the open break defining two yoke tongues and ayoke opening therebetween, the open break being narrower than thediameter of the receiving aperture, a fixing element to connect thefastening eye to the respective part of the windshield wiper system, ahollow, cylindrical, rubber-elastic, noise-and-vibration dampeningelement adapted to be inserted into the fastening eye, the dampeningelement being made with an annular groove on an outside circumferencethereof and being insertable sideways and with the annular groovethrough the yoke opening as far as into the receiving aperture, thedampening element being adapted to receive the fixing element, and a webconnected with the two yoke tongues to bridge the yoke opening for theyoke tongues to thereby withstand a radial pressure exerted by thefixing element and enable an easy insertion of the dampening element. 2.Fixing means for a windshield wiper system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the fastening eye is an integrally formed part of a die-castelement of the windshield wiper system, wherein the fastening eye has acup-shaped design with a cup wall and a cup bottom, with the aperturefor receiving the noise-and-vibration dampening element being located inthe cup bottom; and wherein the yoke opening extends through the cupwall, with the web across the yoke opening being formed by a part of theremainder of the cup wall.
 3. Fixing means for a windshield wiper systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening eye is fabricated fromsheet metal and is firmly connected with the respective part of thewindshield wiper system, and the web is a sheet metal part fastened onthe yoke tongues.
 4. Fixing means for a windshield wiper system asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the web is shaped in one piece with thefastening eye and is formed by means of a section of the same raised outof the plane of the fastening eye.
 5. Fixing means for a windshieldwiper system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening eye is a metalplate one edge of which is bent in an approximately perpendicularmanner, and the yoke opening extends through the bent edge so that theremainder of the bent edge forms the web.
 6. Fixing means for awindshield wiper system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening eyeis a metal plate with an edge which, sectionally, has the shape of anarc, in particular of a circular arc, with the edge of the metal platebeing raised at least in the arcuate section, and the yoke openingextends through this arcuate section of the edge.